REVIEW: Hot Toys 1:6 Avengers: MMS230 Bruce Banner and Hulk

When it comes to Marvel film-based collectibles, Hot Toys has revolutionized the one-sixth collectibles market by consistently delivering incredible movie-based figures of all the latest films. The Avengers’ Movie Masterpiece Series has delivered one of the most diverse and robust assortment of heroes and villains ever produced under a single film license no to mention the most “Incredible” Hulk collectible figure to date. While collectors have been proudly displaying the big green guy on their toy shelves and curios, the gamma-infected Dr. Banner has been missing from the line, until now.

The regional Hulk/Bruce Banner sixth scale figure set offers collectors another opportunity for fans to own their very own Hulk figure along with his alter ego Dr. Bruce Banner. But that’s not all, the gift set also includes an exclusive diorama base with defeated Chitauri soldier and two steal beam pieces that can be placed in Hulk’s hands. The packaging for this set is very similar to the original Hulk only this box is much larger and features images of both Hulk and Dr. Banner. The Hulk figure is housed within a protective heavy-duty foam tray while the Bruce Banner figure, accessories and display base are housed within a separate plastic tray that sits on top of the Hulk’s foam tray and doubles as a lid.

The Hulk figure included with this set is an identical re-release of the previous single-packed figure (see our 2-poart video review HERE and HERE). Hulk features an incredibly detailed head sculpt that is almost flawless. Everything from the facial expression, lever-controlled eyes and realistic teeth give an incredibly life-like look and feel to the Hulk figure. The Hulk’s body consists of a muscular rubberized outer body that houses an articulated endo-skeleton within. The Hulk includes a beautiful diorama display stand of defeated Chitauri soldier laying on top of a pile of rubble and debris. The base is intricately detailed and has two adjacent flat areas where you can place Hulk’s feet. While is a really nice added bonus, this is the same exact base that came with the exclusive battle-damaged Mark VII Ironman figure so it would have been great for the big green guy to have had is own unique display base or even better an additional head sculpt as an incentive to collectors for purchasing the gift.

The Bruce Banner figure has a striking resemblance to actor Mark Ruffalo. The figure does not include a lot of accessories but then again, he doesn’t really need them. The figure seems to have a small cushion placed on the abdominal area which is a bit odd for a sixth scale figure but it was probably placed there to bulk up the body a bit. Banner features the same traditional articulation featured on all Hot Toys figures providing a wide range of posing options for collectors. The doctor looks much better in only his purple long sleeve shirt since the suit makes him look a bit pudgy and overweight. The only minor yet highly-noticeable flaw on the figure is the exposed ankle joints. This could have been easily avoided by simply giving the good doctor a pair of socks to wear.

For collectors who already own a 1/6 scale Hulk, it may be wiser to purchase the individual Bruce Banner figure. However, if you don’t already have the big green guy in your collection, then this gift set is an absolute must-have. This awesome gift set is most likely to become more sought after in the future and increase in value due to it’s limited production and exclusivity so if you have been thinking about purchasing one for your collection, It would be wise to do it now while they are still available through sideshowtoy.com for $509.99 or take advantage of their Flex Pay option and split it into two installments of $255.00.